Journey Into old Age (part 5)

 

Last time, I offered the fourth part of the workshop based on the work of Helen Luke in her study of the journey into old age which draws on a number of classic stories.  Luke’s writing on this subject is found in her book – Old Age; Journey Into Simplicity.  Here is the fifth and final part of that material.

 

      I.          The Story: Odysseus is now informed that he must make sacrifices to Poseidon - the god he had offended in earlier years.  The three-fold sacrifice of ram, bull and breeding boar is his alone to find and fulfil.  This seemingly impossible task is made all the more impossible by the fact he must only use a rope to accomplish it.  This was in truth no surprise to our hero as it had all been foretold so long ago by the blind seer Teiresias.  For this fate had been truly forged in Odysseus’ pride filled ambition. 

The three sacrifices are made.  The god is appeased, enmity is ended and honour is thus restored.  Thus, the chasm between man and god - between ego and psyche is mended.  Odysseus place in the cosmos is thus set aright.   Odysseus then returned to where his journey had begun.  However, as has been said it was not the home he left because you can’t go to the home.  He has now fulfilled the life of the hero.  Domestic and divine were there united as the gods had after all ordained. 

The journey of growing old must be marked by sacrifices of those qualities that were forged in our pride and ambition of youth.  We must now as we grow into Old Age see with humility the follies and frailties of youth.  We must by these sacrifices appease the gods which we have dishonoured in the youthful follies.

 Exercise: Identify a god that you have offended in your youth e.g. this could be a value such as truth, honesty, charity etc.  Imagine what a sacrifice would be to appease that god. 

This concludes our journey into Old Age guided by Helen Luke.  I wish you blessings on your journey.